Remote controlled vehicle toy



Jan. 22, 1957 M. ERNST 2,778,158

REMOTE CONTROLLED VEHICLE TOY Filed Feb. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTGP Max [A /V67 Jan. 22, 1957 M. ERNST 2,778,15

REMOTE CONTROLLED VEHICLE TOY 5 .m w-wtaflt rzju @3 5 F l G. 6

INVENTORQ MAX ERNST 2,778,158 REMOTE CONTROLLED vnrnctnrov Max Ernst, Numberg, Germany Application February 10, 1954, Serial No. 409,470 Claims priority, application Germany February 12, 1953 9 Claims. (Cl. 46-219) The present invention relates to a remote controlled toy, especially toy vehicle. For remote drive and remote control of vehicle toys, devices have been suggested according to which the transfer of driving forces from a drive mechanism or transmitter is effected by a rotatable elastic hollow shaft for instance in form of a closely coiled wire. That end of such wire which is adjacent the toy is coupled through an appropriate transmission with the driving elements of the vehicle. According to known arrangements of this type, a wire core is provided in the elastic hollow shaft. That side of said wire core which is adjacent to the transmitter or drive mechanism is connected with a pressure member which latter. is preferably equipped with a retraction spring while that side of said wire core which is adjacent the toy is connected with a lever associated with the front or guiding wheels. In this way it is possible independently of the transfer of driving forces, to convey to the toy vehicle also steering forces.

The present invention likewise concerns a remote controlled toy vehicle and is of particular importance in connection with a toy vehicle moving on traction belts or endless tracks.

Whereas with the heretofore known remote drive and remote steering means it was only possible to cause the toy vehicle to move forwardly and backwardly while steering the guiding wheels, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote controlled toy vehicle which will selectively perform a greater number of different functionsv It is another object of this invention to provide a remote controlled toy vehicle moving on endless tracks as for instance a tank, digger, tractor or the like which can be driven and controlled in the manner of full 'size vehicles of this type, i. e. in which the two traction belts can selectively be moved into the same direction forward- I ly or backwardly or in which one traction belt only may be operated for bringing about a turning movement of the vehicle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a remote controlled toy vehicle of the type set forth in the preceding paragraph, in which also while the vehicle is at a standstill certain functions of the vehicle can be brought about such as the turning of a gun turret or the generation of sparks in imitation of firing if the vehicle represents a tank.

These and other objects ad advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a remote controlled toy vehicle according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows on a somewhat larger scale than that employed in Fig. 1 a coupling device according to the present invention for coupling gear occupies a certain position.

Fig. 3 illustrates the same device as that shown in Fig. 2 but with the coupling gear occupying a different position.

the remote control of the vehicle while the nited States Patent Fig. 4 is a top view of the arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a vehicle tank which according to the present invention is provided with an indicating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a top view the upper cover removed.

Fig. 7 represents a section taken along the line VII- VII of Fig. 6. l 1

General arrangement Accordingto the present invention, the toy vehicle, especially a toy vehicle moving on traction belts or endless tracks, is provided with two or more coupling wheels adapted to be actuated for various functions through the intervention of a two-part power conveying means, for instance in the form of a flexible hollow shaft with a rotatable core extending therethrough. The rotatable part of the power conveying means has that end thereof which is adjacent the toy vehicle, provided with one or more operable coupling wheels, while the relative movement of the two parts of the power conveying means which movement is conveyed thereto from that end of said power conveying means which is remote from the vehicle is adapted to make effective OrinefiectiVe a functions of the toy vehicle.

According to a structurally particularly simple and reliable embodiment of a toy vehicle according to the present invention, the operable coupling wheels mounted'on the toy vehicle are fixedly arranged for variousfunctions, whereas those driving coupling wheels are movably arranged which are connected with that part of the power conveying means which is to be rotated. Thesecond nonrotatable part of the power conveying means which comprises the hollow shaft or the wire core, is preferably fixedly connected with the toy vehicle whereby the control andshift-over forces can be made effective on the toy vehicle. 7

The transmission of driving forces may be effected by the wire core or 'by the hollow shaft. The respective part not serving for driving purposes must be fixed on theside adjacent the toy and the other part must bev movable. Thus, if the wire core is employed for transmitting the driving forces, it must also be movable relative to the hollow shaft which, however, requires a somewhat awkward construction of power producing means to be used in connection with this invention.

In order to obtain a particularly simple prime mover or power producing means, according to the present invention, that end of the wire core, which is adjacent the toy vehicle, is fixedly connected with the toy vehicle, and the hollow flexible shaft which is end thereof which is adjacent to the toy provided with a tubular member which is equipped with one or more driving coupling wheels. The said tubular member is axially displaceably arranged on the toy vehicle, preferably be tween abutments. f

The driven coupling wheels mounted on the toy vehicle may according to the invention consist preferably of .a

number 'of crown gears arranged one behind the other in one direction,

and the driving coupling wheels may in this instance consist of pinions displaceable in a proper distance with regard 'to said crown gears. Due to the relative movement ofthe'hollow shaft withregai'd to the wire core or vehicle the said pinions may selectively be coupled with one or more of said crown'gears.

As has been stated above, the invention-is particularly advantageous in connection with the construction of re motely driven and remotely controlled endless track toy vehicles. To this end, accordingto the present invention a separate driveprovided with a coupling wheel is arranged for each side of-the vehicle. The drivable of the vehicle tank of Fig. 5 with plurality of p to be rotated 'has that.

coupling wheels may selectively be driven in unison with each other in order to obtain a straight ahead movement of the vehicle or they may be driven individually in order to cause the vehicle to drive through a left ora right curve. Thus, for instance, on one side of the driving gear system of the caterpillar toy vehicle, two crowngears may be arranged one alongside the other which by means of a displaceable pinion willbe driven individually or in unison with each. other. In this instance, a drive through a curve is obtained when the crown gears are driven individually, or a forward or rearward movement of the driving wheels or endless tracks of the vehicle is obtained when said crown gears are driven in unison with each other. It is, of course, understood that with the arrangement according tothe invention also other toys moving on wheels may be driven and steered, for instance a vehicle with two driving wheels arranged alongside each other and a third tail wheel.

With the drive according to the present invention for use in connection with a toy vehicle equipped with endless tracks, the maneuvering ability can be improved further by. providing between the two outer guiding wheels of each endless. tracks a third guiding wheel somewhat offset downwardly so that the central section of the endless tracks is located somewhat lower than the ends thereof. A toy vehicle provided with-a drive according to the present invention, especially an endless tracks toy vehicle such as a tank may be equipped with further actuating means, for instance a device for. moving the gun turret or a device for producing sparks. Such devices may likewise be coupled to the remote drive through the power producing means. i

The yieldability in the power conveying means as well as possible jamming sometimes unavoidable-in the switchoyenmechanism of the vehicle may make it relatively difficultprecisely selectively to adjust the toy for carrying out the desired function. To avoid such difficulty, remote controlled toys, especially toy vehicles, according to the present invention are provided with a device by means of which the respective selected function is indicated, By means of such indicating device it is made possible for the playing child precisely to select the desired-function on the toy so that the-appeal ofsuch toy especially toy vehicle is considerably increased.

Thefindication ofthe respectively'selected andadjusted function may be effected in any desired manner, for instance through the intervention of a displaceable or rotatable pointer. and a scale symbolically indicating the individual functions, the arrangement being such that the vehicle will carry out the respective function the symbolic indication of which registers with the pointer. In order to obtain a particularly simple indicating device, the arrangement may be such that the movable part of the control device on the vehicle which serves for adjusting the toy for the various functions, is provided. with an indicating member the position of which in the vehicle is visible througha cut-out in the covering of the toy. Thus, for instance, this indicating member may consist of a slide preferably guided on the frame for the drive which slidemay be provided with different colored stripes and which moves-behind the cut-out within-the toy covering so that with each of the eligible functions a certain color will'appear in the cut-out. In order properly to convey the meaning of the individual colors to the playing child, the various adjustable functions may be indicated by symbols in the respective color indicating within said cut-out.

Structural arrangement Referring now to the drawings in detail and Figs. 1 to 4 thereof in particular, the driving. mechanism for the vehicle shown'in Fig. 1 consists primarily of arigid connected to the end of a shaft 5 which latter has mounted thereon a pinion 6 within the frame 1. The pinion 6 meshes with a gear 7 fixedly connected to the drive shaft 8. The crown gear 3 is likewise connected to the end of a shaft 9' which latter carries a driving pinion 10. The pinion 10 meshes with a gear 11 which latter meshes with connected with a gear 14 through the intervention of a gear 13; said gear 14 being connected to the second drive shaft 15. The arrangement is such that when the crown gears 2 and 3 move in opposite direction to each other, the drive shafts 8 and 15 move in the same direction and with the same speed.

The third crown gear 4 is connected to one end of a shaft 16 which carries a gear 17. The gear 17 is operatively connected through a gear train 18 with a friction wheel 19 which is adapted to bring about the generation of sparks.

The three crown gears 2, 3 and 4 are located in one plane so that they are arranged one behind the other. That frame side on which the three crown gears 2, 3 and 4 are located is provided with two bearings 20 and 21 within which a tube 22 of small diameter is longitudinally adjustable. The left end (with regard to Figs. 2 to 4) of tube 22 is connected with the hollow flexible shaft 23. The central section of the tube 22 carries a pinion 24, a pinion 25 which latter is somewhat shorter than the pinion 24. The wire core 26 of the drive extends through the hollow tube or shaft 22 and has its right endconnected to a sheet metal member 27 which latter is fastened to an ear 28 of the frame 1.

Operation Thedevice shown in Figs. 2 to 4 operates in the following manner: when the driving part of the coupling device occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, the pinion 25 meshes with the crown gear 4, and the pinion 24 is located within the gear ring of the crown gear 3 so that it is, disengaged fromthe latter. Thus, when a rotative movement is conveyed to the hollow shaft 23, the sparkproducing frictionwheel 19-is actuated through the angular drive 25, 4, whereas the two-shafts 8 and 15 are at a standstill.

When the driving pinion occupies. the position shown in Fig. 3, the pinion 25 is disengaged from the crown wheel 4, and gear 24 meshes with the two crown gears 2 and 3. Thus, when a rotative movement is conveyed to the hollow shaft 23, the two crown gears 2 and 3 move'in opposite direction so that the two shafts 8 and 15 rotate in the same direction.

Figs. 2 and 3 indicate in dash lines two further positionsof the drive. position of pinion 24 indicated by dash lines in Fig. 2, the pinion 24 merely meshes with the crown gear 3 so that only the shaft'15 is driven. According to the position of pinion 24 indicated by dash lines in Fig. 3, the pinion 24 meshes only with the crown gear 2 so that only the shaft 8 is rotated. It will be clear that in the last mentioned two instances only one or the other of the two endless tracks is moved.

As will be seen from Fig. 1, the two endless tracks 29 are in addition to the twoend wheels'30, 31 also guided by an intermediate gear 32 which is located somewhat lower than the two Wheels and 31. This arrangement facilitates the turning movement of the tank about its central portion when only one side of the vehicle is driven; in other words the tank will then turn about the endless tracks section below the intermediate wheel 32.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 7, the arrangement shown therein illustrates an indicating device according to the present invention for indicating the various selected functions to be performed by thevehicle. The arrangement shown in Figs. 5 to 7 comprises a frame 33 having slidably mounted thereon a slide 39. The slide 39 by means of a U-shaped part 40 straddles the pinion 24 and'thus is a gear 12. The gear 12 is operatively while the right-hand end of tube 22 carries.

More specifically, according to the carried along according to the position ofthe hollow shaft or tube 22. As will be clearfrorn Fig. 6, the upper surface of the slide 39 is provided with colored lines 41, 42, 43 and 44 which respectively will successively become visible in a cut-out 35 of the toy vehicle cover (Fig. 5). Furthermore, in the neighborhood of the cut-out 35, symbols are shown for the individual functions, as for instance a lightning bolt 36 which may be supposed to indicate the generation of sparks, a curved double arrow 37 which may indicate a left forward or backward turn, a curved double arrow 38 indicating a right forward or backward turn. The straight double arrow 39a is supposed to indicate the straight forward or backward drive. The arrows or symbols are respectively shown in the color which will appear in the cut-out when the toy is adjusted for the respective function. Thus, for instance the lightning bolt 36 may be in red color corresponding to a red stripe 34, etc. The playing child can thus recognize those for which function the toy has been adjusted or by adjusting a corresponding color can set the toy for a desired function.

It is, of course, understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular constructions shown in the drawings but also comprises any modifications Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

hollow shaft member, one of said members being rotatable and the other of said members being fixedly connected to said toy, a first driving wheel and a second driving wheel arranged in axial alignment with each other and supported by said toy, separate gear train means arranged for driving connection with said wheels respectively, and coupling means arranged for rotation by said hollow shaft member, said coupling means being operable in nected to said toy, a first driving wheel and a second driving wheel arranged in axial alignment with each other and supported by said toy, separate gear train means arranged for driving connection with said wheels respectively, each of said gear train means being respectively protive connection with said wheels, two intermediate wheels: respectively arranged in the central portion of each of said endless tracks'and mounted in said vehicle so that the respective lowermost points of said intermediate wheels are located lower than the respective lowermost points of the respective end wheels in the endless track nected to said toy, a first driving wheel and a second driv gagement with all gear trains to establish driving connection between said hollow shaft member and said auxiliary gear train.

5. A remote controllable toy comprising in combination: control means arranged for conveying a control movement to said toy and comprising a hollow flexible shaft member and a mean-as mark wheir appearingin said-Window indicates that said pltirality of crow'n' gea'r's respectively'drivingly connected: toy hasbeen-adjusted for a certain function. with-said gear trains'ancl'arranged substantially in line 8; A" toy according to claim 7, which includes a pluone afteranother andspaced from each other by predeten rality of'symbols'in diiferent colors respectively equalling mineddistances in conformity with the respective possi the colors of said marks and-symbolizing the respective ble} positions of said coupling gears, said coupling gears function corresponding to the colored mark appearing in being movable selectivelyinto or out of engagement with said window. at least one of said crown gears.

9. A remote controllable toy comprising in combination:- ahollow rotatable flexible shaft, a wire core ex- References Cited in the file'of this 1 tending through said hollow shaft and having one end 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS thereof-fixedly connected to said toy, a tubular member drivingly connected to one end of said hollow flexible -33 3 shaft, a plurality of coupling gears arranged inpredeter- 2244528 i 1941 mined spaced'relation'ship to each other and connected 7620596 g ggg Dec 1952 to said tubullar'member so as to rotate therewith, a plu l5 rality of controllable elements arranged in said toy for FOREIGN PATENTS performing 'difierent functions, a plurality of gear trains 305,133 Great Britain Oct 31, 1929 drivingly connected to said controllable elements and a 

